Company fined after worker falls to his death

Company fined $15,000 after worker falls to his death

Donaghys Industries Limited was fined $15,000 in the Christchurch District Court today after an accident this year.

An employee was killed when he fell from the platform area of the knitting machine he was working on. He suffered severe head injuries and died the following day in hospital.

The victim, was a permanent employee with 17 years experience as a machine operator. The entire fine went to the victim's family.

"The work platform had inadequate guarding in place to prevent a person from falling when performing normal work activities," said Margaret Radford, Service Manager of OSH Canterbury West Coast Region.

"The company had health and safety systems in place but failed to identify this fall from height hazard.

"The work platform was a pre-existing hazard but when the Company made changes to the platform area the hazard in fact became more hazardous with workers being provided with new work positions.

"This accident highlights that hazard identification exercises are critical when changes are made to a production process.

"New Zealanders being harmed and killed at work is simply unacceptable.

"Everyone has the right to go to work and be safe. Companies must ensure that workplace hazards are identified and controlled correctly, and that their safety systems are constantly reviewed and updated."

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